How Much to Tip in Canada
Tipping in Canada is voluntary but expected for table service, taxis, hotels and personal services. Here is the usual starting point, how to work it out on the pre-tax amount, and what changes in Quebec.
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How much should you tip in Canada?
In Canada the usual tip is about 15% of the bill for good service, according to the Government of Canada's guide for newcomers, with more for exceptional service. Tipping is customary at sit-down restaurants, bars, taxis and hotels, and common for hairdressers and delivery. Work it out on the amount before GST, HST or PST.
How much to tip in Canada at a restaurant
How much to tip in Canada at a sit-down restaurant starts at about 15% of the pre-tax bill, which the Government of Canada's settlement guide describes as the standard amount for good service. Many diners give more for excellent service or a special occasion, and less only when service was genuinely poor. Tipping is voluntary; it is never the law.
Tips are a large part of what many servers earn. In Ontario, the Employment Standards Act stops employers from withholding or deducting from employees' tips, apart from permitted tip pooling. Counter service and takeout are more flexible: a tip is appreciated but less expected.
Tipping in Canada by service
Tipping in Canada follows the same broad custom from coast to coast: a percentage for services where someone serves you directly, and small flat amounts for quick help. The table below uses the 15% standard as a reference point. These are customs, not rules, so adjust for the quality of service and what you can afford.
| Service | Is a tip expected? | Common practice |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | Yes | About 15% of the pre-tax bill, more for excellent service |
| Bar | Yes | About 15% of the tab, or a small amount per drink |
| Taxi | Yes | About 15% of the fare; round up for short trips |
| Hair salon or barber | Usually | A percentage similar to restaurant service |
| Food delivery | Usually | A percentage or a flat amount; more in bad weather or for large orders |
| Hotel housekeeping | Customary | A small amount per night, left with a note |
| Hotel porter or valet | Customary | A small flat amount per bag or per car |
| Coffee shop or takeout counter | Optional | Nothing required; round up if you like |
| Large group with automatic gratuity | Already included | Check the bill so you do not tip twice |
Practices checked October 2026 against the Government of Canada's settlement guide and the Office de la protection du consommateur. Customs vary by person and region.
Should you tip on the pre-tax amount?
Yes. The fair and widely used method is to tip on the pre-tax amount, because sales tax goes to government, not to your server. Quebec has made this the rule for payment terminals: since May 7, 2025, any suggested tip percentages must be calculated on the price before GST and QST, and a no-tip option must be offered.
Tipping on the after-tax total quietly raises your tip. In Ontario, with 13% HST, a 15% tip on the total works out to 16.95% of the meal itself. Terminals elsewhere may calculate on the total, so check the screen or choose a custom amount.
| Province | Sales tax on a restaurant meal | 15% of the total equals |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta and the territories | 5% GST | 15.75% of the meal |
| Ontario | 13% HST | 16.95% of the meal |
| Nova Scotia | 14% HST | 17.10% of the meal |
| New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island | 15% HST | 17.25% of the meal |
| Quebec | 5% GST + 9.975% QST | terminals must use the pre-tax price |
British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan add GST and have their own provincial sales tax rules for restaurant food and alcohol, so the gap depends on what you order. The principle is the same everywhere: calculate the tip on the subtotal. The GST, HST and PST explained guide shows what each province charges.
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Worked example: tipping on an $80 dinner
On an $80 dinner in Toronto, a 15% tip on the pre-tax amount is $12.00, while 15% of the after-tax total is $13.56. Here is the arithmetic, plus the same meal in Montreal.
- Ontario tax: $80 × 0.13 = $10.40 HST, so the bill is $90.40.
- Tip on the pre-tax amount: $80 × 0.15 = $12.00. You pay $90.40 + $12.00 = $102.40.
- Tip on the after-tax total instead: $90.40 × 0.15 = $13.56, or $1.56 more for the same service.
- Quebec tax: $80 × 0.05 = $4.00 GST and $80 × 0.09975 = $7.98 QST, so the bill is $91.98.
- Quebec tip: the terminal must suggest percentages of $80, so 15% is $12.00 and you pay $103.98.
Splitting the cheque with friends? Our split bill calculator divides the subtotal, tax and tip so everyone pays their fair share, even when people ordered different amounts.
How much should you tip for delivery?
For food delivery in Canada, a tip is usually expected, either as a percentage of the food subtotal or a flat amount, with more for long distances, large orders or bad weather. Remember that the app's delivery and service fees are not tips. Check how the app passes tips to the courier before you choose an amount.
- Tip on the food, not the fees. Service fees, small-order fees and taxes go to the app or government.
- Adjust for effort. Stairs, snowstorms and big orders deserve more than a short trip on a dry day.
- Cash or in-app. Either works; in-app tips are easier to track in your budget.
Tips, taxes and your budget
A voluntary tip is not subject to GST or HST, according to the Canada Revenue Agency. A mandatory or suggested service charge that a business adds to your bill, such as an automatic gratuity for a large group, is treated as part of the price, and GST or HST applies to it. Read the bill before adding a tip on top.
Tips add up faster than most people expect. Fifteen percent on a few meals out, coffees and deliveries each week can be a noticeable line in a monthly budget. EMOH Pay lets you record the full amount, tip included, under dining out, so your monthly budget reflects what you actually spend. Newcomers can find more on everyday costs in our newcomer budget guide.
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Get started free➜How Much to Tip in Canada: frequently asked questions
Is tipping mandatory in Canada?
No. Tipping in Canada is voluntary and not required by law, but it is strongly expected for table service, taxis and hotel services. If a business adds an automatic gratuity or service charge, read the bill so you do not tip twice.
Is 10% a bad tip in Canada?
It is below the usual 15% standard and is generally read as a sign that service fell short. If service was poor, it is reasonable to tip less, and many people mention the problem to a manager rather than leaving nothing.
Do you tip in Quebec the same way as the rest of Canada?
The amounts are similar, but Quebec law now requires payment terminals to calculate suggested tip percentages on the price before GST and QST, show the options neutrally and offer a no-tip choice. Those rules took effect on May 7, 2025.
Do you tip on takeout in Canada?
It is optional. A tip for takeout or counter service is appreciated, especially for large or complicated orders, but it is not expected in the way it is for table service.
Are tips taxable for the person who receives them?
Yes. The Canada Revenue Agency treats all tips and gratuities as taxable income that must be reported on the recipient's return. That is separate from GST or HST, which does not apply to a tip you give voluntarily.
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